Stacking device



Feb. 9, 1954 "r. R. SYKES 2,668,483

STACKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1951 INVENTDR THOMAS R. SYKES Patented Feb. 9, 1954 STACKING DEVICE Thomas R. Sykes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to The Toronto Star Limited, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada,

a corporation of Ontario Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,457

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for delivering articles to a support, and more particularly to a stacking device for newspapers and the like.

- Newspapers coming from a press, conveyor, or feeder normally are all folded in the same direction. If they are stacked one above the other with their folded edges at one side of the S the top of the stack is not level because the papers are thicker along their folded edges, and the newspapers at the top of the stack tend to slide off. It is therefore desirable to stack newspapers in groups, alternate groups having their folded edges at opposite sides of the stack. It has been proposed to direct th newspapers onto a table which, after a predetermined number of newspapers have been stacked on it, is rotated through 180 degrees so that the. newspapers on the table will be folded in an opposite direction to those which are subsequently added. This has the disadvantage that the flow of newspapers must be stopped while the table is being reversed, and it is therefore not feasible to alternate the newspapers in small groups.

It is therefore an object of this invention to construct a stacking device which will receive a continuous flow of newspapers and reverse their folds as it stacks them.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a device for arranging newspapers in stacks comprised of a predetermined number of .newspapers folded in one direction and a predetermined number folded in the opposite direction, with any group having a lesser number of newspapers placed at the top of the stack.

According to this invention, these objects may be achieved by a device comprising a pair of conveyors which have adjacent entrances to which newspapers or other articles are delivered. A diverter is placed near the entrances and may be actuated or moved to direct the articles to one orother of the conveyors. The conveyors have individual discharge exits for the articles, and the conveyors converge towards their discharge exits so that they are oriented differently with respect to the support to which the articles are to be delivered, and articles from one conveyor are delivered to the support from a different direction than articles from the other conveyor. Thus, newspapers travelling fold first along one conveyor land on the support with their folds in one direction, and newspapers travelling fold first along the other conveyor land on the support with their folds in another direction.

In order that predetermined numbers of newspapers may be placed in diiTerent stacks on differentsupports without interrupting the flow of newspapers, a pair of main conveyors may be provided, the main conveyorshaving adjacent entrances, and each main conveyor feeding a pair of branch conveyors. The discharge exits of each pair of branch conveyors are oriented differently with respect to a support, as described in the preceding paragraph. A primary diverter is placed near the entrances to the main conveyors, and secondary diverters are provided for the branch conveyors. The primary diverter is actuated or moved by a primary article counter, and the secondary diverters are likewise actuated by secondary counters, so that predetermined numbers of articles are directed to each of the conveyors. Each secondary counter has re-set means operating upon movement of the primary diverter. Mechanisms associated with each support comprise unloading means and suitable control means which co-ordinate unloading operations with movements of the primary diverter.

In drawings which illustrate diagrammatically one embodiment of this invention in which the conveyors are in the form of chutes, and in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a device constructed in accordance with this invention for stacking newspapers, only one support and its associated mechanisms being shown;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a support and its associated mechanisms; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 33 in Fig. 1. The device shown in Fig. 1 has an entrance chute I0. Two main chutes H and I2 diverge from entrances in chute ill to the right and to the left respectively. As shown in Fig. 3, the

. chutes in cross section have along dimension and a short dimension and are large enough so that a newspaper or the like will slide easily'in them with its folded edge downward. The pointed end of a primary diverter l3-extends int the entrance chute ill. The point of the diverter has flat faces l3a as shown in plan in Fig. 3. The

other end of the primary diverter carries a cross rod Id of magnetic material which extends into solenoids l5 and IS on either side of the diverter. The diverter is pivoted between its ends ona shaft l1 and is thus movable to the right and to the left in the entrance chute l0.

Above the primary diverter, one end of a trip 18 extends into the entrance chute Ill through a slot Hi. The other end of the trip I8 is operatively mounted on an electric pulse generator 21!, and the pulse generator 29 is electrically con- "nected by wiring'i'l to a primary counter 22.

Counter 22 contains a relay having a' double throw switch (not shown) to connect the counter through wiring 23 or 25 to solenoids l5 or respectively. In the position shown, counter 22 is connected to solenoid l5, and solenoid [5 is thereby energized and moves the point of the primary diverter to the left. The pulse generator and counter may be of any standard type and will not-be described in detail.

Newspapers 25, coming in a stream, one after the other, with their folds down, enter the entrance chute ill from a press, conveyor or feeder. Each newspaper moves trip 18 and, for the position shown, is then diverted into main chute H by diverter [3. Trip l8 operates'rpulse generator 29 which sends a pulse to primary counter 22, stepping the counter ahead one-count; When a. predetermined count is reached, the zrelayin the counter disconnects solenoid l5 and connects solenoid [5, which moves the point of-thediverter to the right. Subsequent papers are diverted into main chute l2 until a second predetermined count is reached, 53113 which time solenoid 15 is disconnected and solenoid l5 re-energized. The process continues so that predetermined numbersof papers are alternately diverted, in groups, into each main chute.

The predetermined 'countmay be set in any conventional way, and "may be a fixed setting, a countset by an :operator from a keyboard, or ,a count set automatically, for each group-ofnews- :papers, from a punch card system.

Main chute H is. divided into two branches 2-8 and :21 which diverge to the-right'and' to "the left respectively from the .main chute, and

then converge at. their lower ends so as'to be 'difierently oriented with respect to a support which is generally indicated by reference numeralrZB; .A trip 25-extends into main'chute ll .and'operates pulse generals-M which sends pulses to a secondary counter/3.1. Secondary counter 3i alternately energizes solenoids '32 and 33 which move the point of asecondary diverter '34 to theleftor to the right respectively, in order to direct newspapers selectively into either the right or the left branch chute.

Various predeterminedsettings are possible for the secondary counter '3 I, but normally the setting would be such as to direct consecutive groups of say five newspapers alternately into branch chutes 26 and 27!.

All newspapers-originally enter the chutes with their folds down, and they thereforeemerge fold first from chutes 2B and 21, successive papers landing one on top of another to form a-stack on support 23. Since the newspapers in chutes 26 and'i'l are directed from diiferent directions onto support '28, the newspapers which "pass through chute 25 are oriented differently in the stack than those which pass through chute21, and alternate groups are readily identified -for counting by newsboys.

The primary counter and diverterdetermine the number of newspapers in eachstack, and the secondary counter and diverter determine the arrangement of the newspapers in the stack. When the predetermined number of newspapers for a stack on support 28 has been directed down main chute i l, the point of primary diverter I3 is moved to the right. As will be described in more detail hereafter, the stack on support .4

28 is then removed from the support so that a new stack may be placed on the support when the-point of primary. diverter I3 is again moved to the left. It is desirable that in each stack the differently oriented groups be laid in regular i of rollers.39.

ously ':by a. beltmounted on pulleys 4 and 42,

"papers 25 on-support- 28.

tion, and this "re-set means is connected in parallel with solenoid l4 by wiring 35. The re-set means is thus operated upon actuation by primary counter 22 of solenoid l4 to move the point of .thewdiverter to the right.

For stacking and unloading it is convenient to havesupport flll movable vertically in a shaft.

1 In-the embodiment-shown, one side of the shaft is a wall- 38 (which is broken away in Fig. 2), and theshaft has a pair of corner-posts, 31 secured together at their upper ends by a tie rod 31a. 'i-he posts have channels or guides 3Tb which face each other and extend lengthwise of the posts. "The shaft has a short wall 3-8 which {has ainumloer of notches along its upper edge. Walls 33 and '38 extend beyond theshafui-and supported between :them on suitable bearings are a plurality These rollers are'driven continuthe latter being :di iyenzby a motor 43 through a belt 44.

Support 2-8 comprises forks 28a rigidly ;at- .tached to :asupporting piatezabwhich is'adap-tcd "to slide vertically in the guides-34a and 3.5%. A

clasp secures plate'28b'to achain 46 mounted on pulleys 41 and 48. A :motor 49 is coupled "to the. support through a worm :gear 50, a elutch -51, the pulleys 41 and :48, and the chain 146.

The motor 49 is electrically connected through wiring 52 and a switch-53' tosuitable supply mains. When motor 49 is coupled to the support '28 but disconnected iromthe -supplymains, the

nects motor 49 from the supply mains so that support 28 is stationary. Shaft 56 carries a spiral 'vane fit which revolves over the stack of As morepapers'are "added to the stack, the shaft is moved-upwardly, switch 53 is--closed,:and-motor-49 drives support 28 downwardly until thelevel of the top of the stack is lowered sufliciently for shaft 56 to reopen switch 53. In thisway the elevation of the top of the stack is maintained substantially constant.

-When the support 28 is 'tobe unloaded, clutch 51 is disengaged, by means described hereinafter, and'the weight of the stack (if-newspapers causes support '2Bto falluntil forks 28a rest in the notches in wall 38, as shown inphantomin Fig. '2. The stack (if-newspapers is then rolled off the forks by rollers 89. On moving down, support 28 causes chain 46 to stretch a spring .60

which is fastened to the chain by a clamp GI,

and when the newspapers are removed from the support by the rollers 39, the support is sufficiently light in weight for spring 60 to pull it back upto the top of the shaft, Where it isready to receive .a new stack of newspapers.

Thehnloading operation .for support 28 should take. place when newspapers are, being ,,di-r.ected .intcmain'chute lZHand consequently means :must

5| to co-ordinate unloading operations with movements of the primary diverter l3. In the embodiment shown, an arm 62 is pivotally mounted at one end to a fixed support 63, and is connected near its middle to one part of clutch 5| and at its other end to an armature 64 which is movable in a solenoid 65. A spring 66 isconnected to the armature and tends to pull it out of the solenoid. .solenoid 65 is connected in parallel with solenoid i5 by wiring 61, and is therefore energized when the point of primary diverter l 3 is moved to the left. When the point of the primary diverter is moved to the right,

solenoid 65 is de-energized, spring 66 pulls armature 64 out of the solenoid, and arm 62 disengages clutch 5|.

The operation and construction of only the right-hand side of the stacking device have been fully illustrated and described herein. It will be understood that the left-hand side of the device is exactly similar in construction and operation, and is co-ordinated in a similar way, sothat a stack is being formed on the left-hand side while a stack is being unloaded on the right-hand side, and conversely a stack is being unloaded on the left-hand side while one is being formed on the right-hand side. The operation is continuous and the flow of newspapers need never be stopped.

It will further be understood that this invention is not limited to a device for stacking newspapers and the like, but can be adapted to direct a stream of any kind of articles onto a support in such a way that different articles are oriented difi'erently on the support. Also, other .types of conveyors, such as belt or roller conveyors, may be arranged in a similar way to that in which the chutes are arranged, in order to achieve the same result.

It is thought that the construction and use of the invention will be apparent from the above description of the various parts and their purpose. It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and

that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the vention, as defined in the subjoined claims. K

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device for stacking newspapers and the like, comprising a pair of supports, a pair of main chutes having adjacent entrances, newspaper directing means comprising a primary diverter movable at the entrances to direct newsfrom one support while newspapers are being directed onto the other support.

2. A device for stacking newspapers and the like on a support, comprising a pair of chutes having at their upper ends adjacent entrances for the reception of a stream of similarly oriented newspapers, the chutes diverging downwardly from their upper ends and converging at their lower ends towards the support so that they approach the support from substantially opposite directions for delivering the newspapers to the support, the newspapers from one chute thus being oriented on the support in the opposite direction to the newspapers from the other chute, and a diverter located adjacent the entrances for directing newspapers selectively into each chute.

3. A device for stacking newspapers and the like on a support, comprising a pair of conveyors having adjacent entrances for the reception of a stream of similarly oriented newspapers and spaced apart exits approaching the support from substantially opposite directions for delivering the newspapers to the support so that the newspapers delivered from one conveyor are oriented on the support in the opposite direction to the newspapers delivered from the other conveyor,

and a diverter located adjacent the entrances for directing newspapers selectively to each conveyor.

4. A device for delivering articles to a pair of supports, comprising a pair of main conveyors having adjacent entrances for the reception of articles, primary article directing means comprising a primary article counter and a primary diverter actuated by the primary counter and located adjacent the entrances to direct predetermined numbers of articles to each main conveyor, a pair of branch conveyors for each main conveyor, each pair of branch conveyors having adjacent entrances for receiving articles from one of the main conveyors and individual exits for discharging the articles to a support, a secondary counter and a secondary diverter for each pair of branch conveyors for directing predetermined numbers of articles to each branch conveyor, and re-set means for each secondary counter coupled to the primary article directing means, the re-set means being operable by the primary article directing means upon actuation by the primary counter of the'primary diverter.

5. A device for stacking newspapers and the like, comprising a pair of main conveyors having adjacent entrances for the reception of a stream of similarly oriented newspapers, primary newspaper directing means comprising a primary newspaper counter and a primary diverter actuated by the primary counter and located adjacent the entrances to direct predetermined numbers of newspapers to each main conveyor, a pair of branch conveyors for each main conveyor, each pair of branch conveyors having adjacent entrances for receiving newspapers from one of the main conveyors and individual exits for discharging the newspapers onto a support to form a stack, the individual branch conveyors in each pair diverging from their entrances and converging towards their exits so that they approach the support from substantially opposite directions and deliver newspapers onto the stack with opposite orientations, a secondary counter and a secondary diverter for each pair of branch conveyors for directing predetermined numbers of newspapers to each branch conveyor, and re-set means for each secondary counter coupled to the primary newspaper directing means for re-setting the secondary counter upon actuation by the primary counter of the primary diverter.

6. A device for delivering articles to a pair of supports, comprising a pair of main conveyors having adjacent entrances for the reception of articles, a primary article counter, a primary diverter coupled electric-ally to the primary counter and actuated by the primary counter and located adjacent the entrances to direct prexletermmed numbers of articles to each-main conveyor, a pair of branch conveyors :foreach main conveyor, each pair of branch conveyors having adjacent entrances forreceiving articles from one of the main conveyors and individual exits for discharging the articles to a support, a secondary counter and a secondary diverter for each pair of branch conveyors for directing predetermined numbers of articles to each branch conveyor, and re-setmeans for each secondary counter coupled electrically to-the primary (counter and actuated by the primary counter when the primary diverter is actuated.

1. .A device for stacking newspapers and the like on a support, comprising a pair of chutes having at their upper ends adjacent entrances for the reception of a ,streamof similarly oriented newspapers, the chutes diverging downwardly from their upper ends and converging at their lower :ends towardsthe support sorthat they appreach the support from substantially opposite directions for delivering the newspapers to the 8 support, :the newspapers. irom, one :GhutB thus being ,oriented on the sup ort the opposite direction :to thernewspapers from the other chute, a newspaper counter, and a counter actuated diverter located adjacentthe entrances to direct predetermined numbers of newspapers into each chute.

1 THOMAS R. SYKES.

References Cited in theefile of this'patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,059,398 ,Roemer e Nov. '3, .1936 2,066,869 Wild Jan. 5,1937 2,109,050 Quick .Feb. '22, .1938 2,484,196 Turrall Oct. 11, 1 49 2,515, 65 .Nurnberg July 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number v Country 'Date 33345622 Great Britain Sept. J11; 1930 

